The Northern Ethnic Youths Group Assembly (NEYGA) has come out in defense of the Department of State Services (DSS) over the arrest of a 29-year-old TikToker, Ghali Isma’il, for spreading false information about President Bola Tinubu's death. NEYGA criticized Amnesty International for condemning the arrest, describing it as an abuse of power and an attempt to gag Nigerian youths.
Background of the Incident
Ghali Isma’il was arrested by DSS operatives for posting fake videos on TikTok claiming President Tinubu died due to food poisoning. He was subsequently arraigned before a Magistrate Court, which remanded him in prison. The DSS informed the court that Isma’il's actions contravened Nigerian law ¹.
NEYGA's Reaction
NEYGA's spokesman, Ibrahim Dan-Musa, accused Amnesty International of hiding under the cover of freedom of speech to destabilize Nigeria. He commended the DSS for approaching the courts to determine Isma’il's guilt or innocence, rather than taking arbitrary action. Dan-Musa also urged the DSS to investigate Amnesty International's activities in Nigeria, citing suspicions that the organization does not seek the good of Nigeria ².
Amnesty International's Stance
Amnesty International described Isma’il's arrest as a "clear demonstration of abuse of power" and claimed that the DSS failed to thoroughly investigate the originality of the videos before acting. The organization also accused the DSS of attempting to restrict Nigerian youths from using social media ¹.
Implications of the Incident
This incident highlights the tension between freedom of speech and national security in Nigeria. While Amnesty International advocates for the protection of human rights, NEYGA believes that the DSS's actions are necessary to prevent the spread of misinformation that could destabilize the country ³.
